The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Monday, September 15, 2014

Taking Advice

A trainer who evaluated my 8-week old puppy (she checked out the rest of the litter as well) suggested we hold him like a baby--with his back against our stomach, while we watch TV. She said we should do this as often as possible. This was not a time to rub his belly or ruffle his fur or pet him. This was a time to help him feel secure. If he wiggled to get down, we were instructed to firmly tell him, "No," and not let him down until he had stopped struggling. This was to cement it into Radar's head who is boss. (Duh! Obviously, Radar is the boss.)  



This is Radar and me at a fine arts festival. (He wore a donation vest for our rescue group.)



Now Radar is 45 pounds. His legs are as long as a teenaged (human) boy. I am developing a hernia each time I hoist him up onto my lap. Perhaps he's no longer a lapdog. Maybe once they get Shetland Pony-size, they shouldn't be snuggling in my lap.

The trainer gave wonderful advice. Radar is quite secure.

Here is some other advice I've gotten recently from a variety of friends:

  • Don't downplay your successes--no matter how small or how temporary. If an editor wants to see something, don't start wailing to everyone that the editor certainly is not going to like what you send them. You have something to celebrate, even if it's just for a moment. You never know...
  • Use a tea bag to help extend your hair color. Are you overdue with Clairol? Is L'Oreal late? Dab that tea bag (after it's been dipped into hot water) on the "skunky" parts...and pray that no one sniffs your head and is then tempted to ask if you want cream and sugar with it. 
  • Take a chance. (TakeaChanceTakeaChanceTakeaChanceTakeaChance. Can't you hear Abba in the background?) Try something new. Think outside the box. Again, you never know what the results might be. There was a call out for "potty training" stories a while back. I dug into the recesses of my memory, and gave the editors the scoop on my poopy story about my son. It's being published in an anthology put out by Monkey Star Press. You never do know...
  • Stop chewing sticks. If I have to reach into your mouth one more time so I can pull out chewed-up pieces of slobbery sticks, I'm gonna throttle you. (Oops. That is not meant for you. I apologize.)
            What has a friend (or specifically a writer friend) given you that has proven to be good (or bad) advice? Inquiring minds are dying to know...
 





23 comments:

  1. Oh, Radar has such a sweet face! I would like to meet him in person. Dogs have such different personalities. I had hoped for a lapdog, a ballet dancer girl dog but I got Rambo instead in Miss Biscuit. Love her just the same it just takes more work to do so. Have a good week out there in the East.

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    1. Claudia--I've seen pictures of Biscuit. You've got a keeper--she's a doll!

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  2. Love that picture of you with Radar! I can imagine he's bursting with fun and puppy energy. With that adorable face, it must be hard not to melt when he has an "oopsie".

    I think the best part about having writer friends is the understanding and encouragement they give. All of them are generous with advice, support, and suggestions when you need them.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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    1. Pat--That's for sure. The benefits we reap when we hang around writer friends is immeasurable...

      (Yeah, Radar is "bursting" alright...)

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  3. That is a great picture of you and the pooch. My WWWPs offer encouragement and uplifting advice, and I am a better writer because of it.
    Congrats on Monkey Press. My story was accepted for the Christmas anthology.

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    1. Linda--Congrats to YOU. I look forward to reading your Christmas story.

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  4. Encouragement was my best advice. The thought that my writing was actually good enough to submit lit a fire under me. Now the soft gray powdery coals are warming my butt as I sit on my duff and do nothing. My clotted lungs did not blow on the dying embers this summer as I had planned. As soon as I get more energy, I am going to have a blazing bonfire licking at my bottom, and submissions swirling out like ashes on convection currents!

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    1. Val--If we load you with even more encouragement, will you get off your rear and come up with an anthology of your posts?

      Come on--we're clamorin'.

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  5. "Sioux's Page" has been included in our Sites To See #395. Be assured that we hope this helps to point many new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2014/09/sites-to-see-395.html

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  6. Replies
    1. Speedyrabbit--Radar says, "Thank you." He wants you to know he's available for rental--especially at 3:17 in the morning when he's barking to go outside. ;)

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  7. Delightful!
    I have a Great Dane that still wants to sit on my lap.

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  8. Love that pic of you and your fur-baby! And isn't it wonderful how we help one another through the sludgy muck we create for ourselves? Like your first bullet point about not downplaying the good stuff. I wanted to help you and you helped me right back. :)

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    1. Lisa--Sludgy muck. Sometimes it looks like that muck stretches all the way to the horizon...

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  9. Best advice heard is that each editor is different, with their own preferences and pet likes/dislikes. What one loves and gushes over will cause another's eyes to glaze over. And it's true. All I have to do is walk through the book store or library to see hundreds of books I'd never be interested in but apparently someone is. Persevere and find that editor with a kindred spirit.

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    1. Marcia--That's important to remember when one editor rejects us...Another editor might be out there, interested in our work.

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  10. Great picture (of the BOTH of you)! Good advice, too--you and Lisa seem to be beating the same drum. I get great feedback on my writing all the time--from critique groups and such--but remembering one specific bit of advice would be tough. Probably what I learned early on is that humor is subjective. You can't make all the people laugh all the time. :-)

    Also, hey to my fellow potty contributor! *waves hand, but NOT the hand from the potty story* :-)

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    1. I say, "Poo" and you say, "Pee." Poo! Pee! Poo! Pee!

      Congratulations! I didn't know I was in such great (but perhaps smelly or damp) company...

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  11. That is a darling picture of both of you, and I had to smile at Kerry's comment. I used to have an Irish Wolfhound mix who would back himself like a truck into my lap whenever I sat on the floor. My best advice was from a poster on the wall of my creative writing teacher in high school. It said, "If you wish to be a writer, write."

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    1. Tammy--That is indeed great advice. If we want to be a writer, we can't just talk about it or dream about it. We have to do it.

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  12. What a cute pic! I'll have to share that piece of advice with my younger sister who is having a time with her pup! He gets way too excited. Also, the next post - don't watch much television, so I don't have any favs.

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